Al-Zaidi Chairs Meeting of Independent Bodies' Heads Council and Issues Key Decisions

Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi chaired today, Wednesday, the first regular session of the Council of Heads of Independent Bodies and Non-Ministerial Entities for the year 2026. The session included voting on a series of decisions and recommendations related to integrity, anti-corruption efforts, and the enhancement of government institutions' performance. The meeting discussed several files concerning the work of independent bodies and ways to overcome obstacles they face, as well as reviewing agenda items and adopting necessary decisions and recommendations. Regarding integrity and anti-corruption, the council voted to implement Cabinet Resolution No. (341 of 2026), which approves recommendations from the performance evaluation of ministries, non-ministerial entities, and governorates in the field of combating and preventing corruption. Decisions also emphasized improving the performance of legal staff, ensuring adherence to the code of conduct issued by the Integrity Commission, and obliging those responsible to submit financial disclosure statements within independent bodies by the legally stipulated deadlines. The council approved automating real estate ownership data within a unified system in real estate registration departments, and including clauses in investment and economic agreements with countries holding Iraqi funds covered by the Iraq Recovery Fund Law, addressing the settlement of embezzled funds and the recovery of judicially wanted individuals. Recommendations included amending several previously signed international agreements to align with current phase requirements, notably the Riyadh Agreement on judicial and legal cooperation, the Turkish agreement on judicial cooperation, and the bilateral treaty with Turkey on extradition of criminals. It was decided to refer contracts that the Federal Integrity Commission requests to exempt from Public Contracts Implementation Instructions No. (1 of 2025) to the Ministerial Economic Council for consideration. Concerning the Sunni Endowment Office, the council voted to coordinate with the Federal Public Service Council to identify needed specializations and to work with the Ministry of Finance on including a provision in the federal budget draft law to regularize lecturers and security staff. Decisions also included coordination with the Ministries of Finance, Education, and Planning to exempt construction works of Al-Imam Al-Azam College in Baghdad and other governorates from contracting methods stipulated in public contract instructions, and allocating necessary funds to rebuild and restore mosques and mosques damaged by terrorist attacks. Regarding the Supreme Commission for Hajj and Umrah, the council approved coordination with the Federal Financial Supervision Bureau to complete contract audit requirements, coordination with the Ministry of Transport, and the opinion of the Ministerial Energy Council concerning a request for an exemption related to reducing pilgrims' and umrah performers' ticket prices, while considering measures to reduce and rationalize expenses related to external delegations. In the competition and anti-monopoly file, the council voted to add the Competition and Anti-Monopoly Affairs Council to some government committees involved in preparing economic policies affecting competition, enabling it to express opinions, and preparing a matrix in coordination with relevant authorities to define roles and prevent duplication of decisions and regulatory and supervisory powers in the market. It was also decided to oblige government entities to respond to the council's requests to resolve complaints within specified timeframes and to facilitate establishing branches in southern and northern governorates, similar to the Middle Euphrates branch. Other decisions included voting for the Martyrs Foundation to coordinate with the National Center for Digital Transformation to automate its operations, emphasizing the necessity for government entities to apply the Arabic Language Safety Law No. (64 of 1977), and to seek assistance from the Iraqi Scientific Academy when needed.